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The Key to Bilingualism

THE KEY TO LANGUAGES Bilingualism helps with

language comprehension, tolerance and ability.

Esperanto is the easiest first step.

Search Esperanto on the Web

The world’s most successful created language.

Logical • Easier • Fairer • Learnable

Because exceptions and irregularities do not exist, this booklet contains most of the Esperanto grammar.

The vocabulary consists of a comparatively small number of roots, which, with the addition of prefixes and suffixes enables a vast number of words to be formed.

AUSTRALIAN ESPERANTO ASSOCIATION

aea.esperanto.org.au

Esperanto House 143 Lawson St Redfern NSW 2016

http://esperantohouse.org.au/ (The Key 2016. Esperanto Domo, NSW, Australia)

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ESPERANTO has had continuous usage by an estimated 2 million plus speakers, for more than a century. It is by far the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language in the world.

Esperanto words are derived by stringing together prefixes, roots, and suffixes. This process is regular, enabling people to create new words as they speak.

Compound words are formed with a modifier-first, head-final, order, the same as in English. “birdsong” vs. “songbird”.

What is a man eating shark? (man eats.) Viro manĝas ŝarkon. (shark eats.) Viron manĝas ŝarko. The suffix -n is used to indicate the direct object, as well as showing movement towards.

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INDEFINITE

Some, any

K

QUESTIONING

RELATIVE

What, which

T

DEFINITE

That

Ĉ

INCLUSIVE

Each, every, all

Nen-

NEGATIVE

No, none

QUALITY

Kind of

Ia Some kind Any kind

Kia What kind

Tia That kind

Such

Ĉia Each kind Every kind

Nenia No kind

MOTIVE

Reason

Purpose

Ial For some reason For any reason

Kial For what reason

Why

Tial For that reason

Therefore

Ĉial For each reason For every reason

Nenial For no reason

TIME

Iam Sometime Anytime

Kiam At what time

When

Tiam At that time

Then

Ĉiam Each time Every time

Always

Neniam At no time

Never

PLACE

Ie In some place Somewhere Anywhere

Kie At what place

Where

Tie At that place

There

Ĉie At each place At every place Everywhere

Nenie At no place Nowhere

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MANNER

Iel In some way In any way

Somehow, anyhow

Kiel In what way

How As, like

Tiel In that way

So

Ĉiel In each way In every way

Neniel In no way

Nohow

POSSESSION

Ies Someone’s Anyone’s

Kies What person’s

Whose

Ties That one’s

Ĉies Each one’s Everyone’s

Nenies No one’s

THING

Io Something Anything

Kio What

thing What

Tio That thing

Ĉio Everything

Nenio Nothing

QUANTITY

Iom Some (of the

quantity)

Kiom What quantity

How much

Tiom That quantity

So much

Ĉiom Every quantity

All of the quantity

Neniom None of the

quantity

INDIVIDU-

ALITY

Iu Someone Anyone

Kiu What person Which thing Who, Which

Tiu That person

That (specified) thing

Ĉiu Each person

Ĉiuj, all, all the Everyone

Neniu No one Nobody

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If several roots (or roots with

prefixes and suffixes) in combination express one idea, they are written as one word.

For the sake of greater clarity to learners, they are sometimes separated by small strokes: mal- fort-ec-o, bedaŭr-ind-e, facil-ig-i, kre-int-o.

Though forming one idea, these words are composed of several parts, each of which has a separate meaning.

You will quickly learn the grammatical endings, prefixes and suffixes by heart.

Then just take them away from the word to be deciphered, and consult the vocabulary for the fundamental root that is left.

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Mal-fort-ec-o — -ec- denotes abstract qualities, o ending of a noun, mal- opposite and fort- strong. Therefore forteco = strength, malforteco = weakness.

Bedaŭr-ind-e — -ind- denotes worthiness, e ending of adverb, bedaŭr- regret. Therefore bedaŭrinde — regrettably.

Facil-ig-i — -ig- to cause to be, i ending of infinitives, facil- easy. Therefore faciligi = to make easy.

Kre-int-o krei- to create, -int- ending of past participle, active, o, ending of nouns. Therefore kreinto = creator.

A few roots are complete words. They can be used without the addition of any grammatical endings.

These are conjunctions, adverbs, prepositions, pronouns. eg kaj = and, en = in, ankaŭ = also, ŝi = she.

a, b, c, ĉ, d, e, f, g, ĝ, h, ĥ, i, j, ĵ, k, l, m, n, o, p, r, s, ŝ, t, u, ŭ, v, z.

All the letters are pronounced as in English with the following exceptions:- a ‘a’ father, ĝ ‘g’ George, o ‘o’ for, c ‘ts’ prince/bits, ĥ ‘ch’ loch, s ‘s’ see, ĉ ‘ch’ church, i ‘i’ sit,

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ŝ ‘sh’ she, e ‘e’ there, j ‘y’ yes, u ‘u’ rule, g ‘g’ go, ĵ ‘s’ pleasure, aŭ ‘ow’’power/ouch.

The letter ŭ (corresponding to the English ‘w’,) is actually a half-vowel, and only found after another vowel.

The vowels a, e, i, o, u, are pronounced: are there three or two?

The diphthongs aŭ, eŭ, aj, ej, oj, and uj are pronounced as a single syllable.

Every word is to be read as it is written. The accent always falls on the second last syllable. (Identifies individual words in speech, as do spaces between words when written.) “vojo”, “kantado”, “interparolo”, absoluta.

o. a. e. By adding one of these letters to the root, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs are formed.

Nouns are formed with ‘o’,

adjectives with ‘a’, and adverbs with ‘e’. La patro, the father. patra, paternal. milito, war. milita, military (adj). feliĉo, happiness. feliĉa, happy. feliĉe, happily. bona, good. bone, well.

There is no indefinite article “a”, and only one definite article (la) for all genders numbers and cases.

Compound words are formed by simple junction of roots and are written as single words. For the sake of euphony the grammatical endings o, a and e (according to sense) may be inserted between the roots. akvofalo, a waterfall. noktomezo, midnight. ĝustatempe, at the right time. senpage, gratuitously.

The so-called foreign words, which different languages have taken from the same source

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and which therefore are already internationally understood and used, undergo no change in Esperanto beyond conforming to the system of spelling. Telegrafi, to telegraph. telegrafa, telegraphic. parko, a park. teatro, a theatre. teatra, theatrical.

The plural is formed by adding the letter ‘j’ to the ending of the noun ‘o’ ‘oj’ (boy), or adjective ‘a’. ‘aj’ (eye). Adjectives agree with their nouns as regards number and case. bona domo, a good house. bonaj domoj, good houses.

There are only two cases in Esperanto, the non-inflected one (or nominative) and the inflected one (or objective / accusative) which is formed by adding the letter ‘n’ to the nominative singular or plural. La filo amas sian patron, the son

loves his father. Mi vidas arbojn, I see trees. Mi amas ŝin, I love her.

Every preposition in Esperanto has a definite fixed meaning. All prepositions govern the nominative case.

The genitive is formed by the preposition de. de la patro, of the father, the father’s.

The dative is formed by the preposition al. al la patro, to the father.

If it is necessary to employ a preposition, and if it is not quite clear from the sense, “je” should be used. If it is not ambiguous we may use instead of je the ‘n’ ending without a preposition. Ridi je la kantado, to laugh at the singing. je la tria tago, or la trian tagon, on the third day.

Ĉu is a verbal question mark for all yes/no questions Ĉu vi sidas?

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Are you sitting? Ĉu ne? No? Isn’t it? Aren’t you? Didn’t they? etc.

In questions answering a question where to? (meaning whither?), the word indicating the direction takes the accusative termination ‘n’. Kie? where? Kien vi iras? Where are you going to? hejme, at home. hejmen, homewards. iri Parizon, to go to Paris. la birdo flugas en la ĉambron, the bird flies into the room. la birdo flugas en la ĉambro, it flies in the room. (Not into the room.)

The comparative degree is formed by pli more, and the superlative by plej, most. la pli alta knabo, the taller boy. la plej alta virino, the tallest woman.

The word ‘than’ is rendered by ol. Pli blanka ol neĝo, whiter than snow.

Ko

rpo

-pa

rtoj e

l Po

ŝam

iko

Mem

ori

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loj —

bild

vo

rtaro

j de

ed

uk

ad

o.n

et

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mi, I. ci, thou, thee. li, he. ŝi, she. ĝi, it. ni, we. vi, you. (sing. and plural.) ili, they, si is the reflexive pronoun, ie himself, herself, itself, oneself, themselves. oni, one, people, they. (the French ‘on’.)

Add adverbial ending ‘a’ to make adjectives. mia, my. via, your, yours. ŝia, her, hers. ĝia, its. liaj libroj, his books.

The objective case takes the ending ‘n’. Mi amas ŝin, I love her. Min ŝi amas / Ŝi amas min, She loves me.

The cardinal numbers never

change their form. 1 unu. 2 du. 3 tri. 4 kvar. 5 kvin. 6 ses. 7 sep. 8 ok.

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9 naŭ. 10 dek. 100 cent. 1000 mil. –miliono.

The tens and hundreds are formed by simple junction of the numerals: 117 — cent dek sep. 533 — kvincent tridek tri.

Ordinals are formed by adding the adjectival a to the cardinals — unua, first. dua, second. tria, third.

Multiples are formed by ‘obl’. kvarobla, fourfold. dekobla, tenfold.

Fractionals are formed by ‘on’. duono, a half, tri kvaronoj, three quarters.

Collective numerals are formed by the use of op. okope, by eights. dekduope, by dozens.

To form distributives the proposition ‘po’ is used: po ses, at the rate of six, six at a time; po naŭdek, at the rate of ninety.

Firstly, secondly, thirdly, etc. are rendered by the adverbial form unue, due, trie, etc

as. is. os. us. u. i. ant. int. ont. at. it. ot. By means of these twelve syllables and the auxiliary verb esti we are able to render all voices, moods and tenses of the conjugation.

The verb never changes its form as regards number and person.

The first three fundamental endings for tenses are as, is, os. Present — mi skribas, I write. Past — mi skribis, I wrote. Future — mi skribos, I will write.

The next three, us, u, i, help to form the conditional, imperative, and infinitive moods:

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Conditional — mi skribus, I would write. Imperative — skribu, write. Infinitive — skribi, to write.

By adding the personal pronoun to the imperative, one expresses wish, intention, or will. (ke) li skribu, let him write, (that) he may write. ni skribu, let us write.

Verbs are transitive (take a direct object) or intransitive (take no object).

The suffix -ig- (make, cause to be, etc) when necessary, forms a transitive verb. The suffix -iĝ- (become, etc) when necessary, forms an intransitive verb.

Simple verbs are used, whenever possible, rather than compound forms.

The syllables ‘ant’, ‘int’, ‘ont’,

with the adjectival ‘a’ form the active participles Present — skribanta, writing. Past — skribinta, having written. Future — skribonta, about to write.

By adding the grammatical ending ‘o’, they become nouns; and by adding ‘e’, they obtain an adverbial character. La leganto, the reader; la pasinta nokto, the past night; instruante ni lernas, by teaching we learn.

The passive participles are formed by the syllables ‘at’, ‘it’, ot’, with the addition of the adjectival ‘a’. Present — amata, being loved. Past — amita, having been loved. Future — amota, about to be loved.

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These also can be turned into nouns and adverbs. La amato, the person loved; presita libro, a printed book; vundite li revenis el la batalo, (having been) wounded, he returned from the battle.

By the help of the auxiliary esti, to be, the compound tenses are formed. vi estas petata, you (singular) are requested. ni estos skribintaj, we shall have written. ŝi estus laboranta, she would be working. li estis dormonta, he was about to sleep. mi estas amita, I have been loved. estu benata, be blessed.

N.B. the verb havi, to have, to possess, is never used as an auxiliary verb.

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bo- denotes relation by marriage. patro, father; bopatro, father-in-law. dis- denotes separation. (as in English). ĵeti to throw, disĵeti to throw about. semi, to sow, dissemi, to disseminate. ek-

denotes beginning or momentary action. brili, to shine. ekbrili, to flash. kanti, to sing, ekkanti, to start singing. eks- denotes ex-, former. eksreĝo, former king. eksprezidanto, ex- president. fi- denotes shamefulness. firakonto, a low/dirty story. fikomerco, shady/ dirty business. ge- denotes persons of both sexes, taken together. geamikoj, male and female friends, geonkloj, uncles and aunts. gepatroj, parents.

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mal- denotes opposite ideas. malalta, low. malgranda, small. malriĉa, poor. mis- denotes mis-, amiss. misuzi, to misuse. misprezenti, misrepresent. pra- denotes distance in time. pranepino, great grand-daughter. pra-uloj, ancestors. pratempo, the distant past. re- denotes repetition (the same thing), again;. reiri, to go again; represi, to print again, reprint. retro- denotes going the opposite way, back; retroiri, to go back; retropreni, to take back (where it was originally), retake.

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-aĉ- denotes contempt or disgust. hundo, a dog. hundaĉo, a cur. -ad- denotes action, frequency, or continuation of action. kanto, a song. kantado, singing. diri, to say. diradi, to keep on saying. rapidado, hurrying. -aĵ- denotes concrete ideas: mola, soft, molaĵo, soft material; heredi, to inherit, heredaĵo , heritage. -an- denotes an inhabitant, member or adherent. Kanado, Canada. Kanadano, a Canadian. kolegio, a college. kolegiano, a collegian. Kristano, a Christian. -ar- denotes a definite collection of things. libro, a book. libraro, library. homo, human being. homaro, mankind. -ĉj- denotes masculine affectionate diminutives. Jozefo, Joseph,

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Joĉjo, Joe. -nj- denotes feminine affectionate diminutive. Anjo, Annie. -ebl- denotes (English -able, -ible). vidi, to see. videbla, visible. kredi, to believe. kredebla, credible. -ec- denotes abstract ideas. mola, soft. moleco, softness. amika, friendly. amikeco, friendship. -eg- denotes enlargement, intensity of degree. vento, a wind. ventego, a gale. varma, warm. varmega, hot. -ej- denotes place allotted to. lerni, to learn, lernejo, school; baki, to bake, bakejo, a bakery. -em- denotes propensity or disposition. babili, to chatter. babilema, loquacious. kredo, to believe. kredema, credulous. -end- that has to be (must be) —ed. solvenda problemo, a problem to be solved.

-er- denotes one unit of a collection. mono, money. monero, a coin. sablo, sand, sablero, grain of sand. -estr- denotes a chief or leader. ŝipo, ship. ŝipestro, captain. regno, a State; regnestro, ruler of a State. -et- denotes diminution of degree, etc. domo, house. dometo, cottage. varma, warm. varmeta, lukewarm. -id- denotes the young of, the descendent of. kato, cat, katido, a kitten. hundido, a puppy. -ig- denotes causing something to be. blanka, white, blankigi, to whiten. bruligi, to set on fire. -iĝ- denotes the action of becoming. pala, pale. paliĝi, to turn pale. fluida, fluid. fluidiĝi, to become fluid. -il- denotes a tool or instrument. ĉizi, to chisel. ĉizilo, a chisel;

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razi, to shave. razilo, a razor. -ind- denotes worthiness. admiri, to admire. admirinda, worthy of admiration. memori, to remember. memorinda, memorable. -ing- denotes holder into which the object is put. glavo, a sword. glavingo, a scabbard. kandelo, candle, kandelingo, a candlestick. -in- denotes feminine. onklo, uncle. onklino, aunt. heroo, a hero, heroino, a heroine. patrino, a mother. -ism- denotes ‘ism’, theory, system. Sociala, social. socialismo, socialism. utila, useful, utilismo, utilitarianism. -ist- denotes trade, profession or occupation. dento, a tooth. dentisto, a dentist. -uj- denotes that which contains. mono, money. monujo, purse.

Anglo, an Englishman, Anglujo, England. -ul- denotes one characterised by some quality. krimo, a crime. krimulo, a criminal. belulino, a beauty (feminine). -um- indefinite suffix (playing a similar role in forming words to that of ‘je’ amongst the prepositions). plena, full. plenumi, to fulfil. vento, wind. ventumilo, a fan. kruco, cross. krucumi, to crucify.

Dictionaries & Translation: Esperanto-English-Esperanto.

Lessons: Free and commercial.

Videos: Stories, information & more.

Esperanto text: App

http://esperanto.typeit.org

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Esperanto is a logical and

beautiful language which was designed to convey everything and to belong to everyone.

It enables people of different mother-tongues to communicate on a basis of equality. It also facilitates the learning of other languages.

In an ideal world, everyone would speak the same SECOND language.

Duolingo: www.duolingo.com/

https://www.duolingo.com/course/eo/ en/Learn-Esperanto-Online

Lernu: www.lernu.net http://en.lernu.net/kursoj/

And others

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The cat is out of the bag.

Esperanto can teach the structure

of language, being itself regular, without exceptions to its rules.

Like the metric system, it has been logically designed and is eminently useable.

Being very much easier to learn than any other language, it is the ideal second language for all.

R.R.P.

$2.00

Compiled by

Roger Springer 2013-2016